Beautiful White Coastal Retreat

Imagine a weekend where it's just you, a pile of books you've been wanting to read, or that blank journal for 2013, and this gorgeous coastal cottage...

Enjoy your tea or coffee on the patio below

...not a bad way to spend a weekend, right?
via Boligmagasinet

California Beach Cottage - White and serene

Happy Friday everyone! I will be on vacation next week, so I'm not sure how often I'll be posting. Since I will be at the beach, what's more fitting than a beach cottage house tour?

this kitchen is nice and bright - it might help me wake up in the morning.

The TV is hidden behind this vintage map - how cool is that?

Stunning


  Read and see more at House Beautiful

Don't miss this house tour - a glamorous beach cottage that still manages to be laid back

This beach home, located on Bald Head Island, belongs to interior designer Lisa Sherry.

It's a dream of mine to one day have a beach home.  I imagine there is a special kind of insurance for vacation properties, so if you plan on having a vacation home one day, be sure to look into it, or you can secure your home with Privilege building and contents insurance.*

Lisa's home is a three-bedroom with a screened-in wraparound porch. Let's start with the best part, shall we?  The wraparound porch

How great would it be to nap on this divan?

I would live on that porch.  I love the dining table and chairs.

I can't decide if I like the cluster of paper lanterns...what do you think?

 The '70's home was one of the first built on the island.  Lisa freshened it up by tearing down some walls and painting almost everything white.

    I think the guest bedroom, with the sheers, is my favorite.


via Lonny Mag
*disclosure: this post in partnership with Privilege.com

A fresh spin on Christmas decor...

I was so excited when I saw photos of this home for the first time. It's so fresh and coastal, but somehow still manages to be festive and feels like Christmas. The home is a barefoot style cottage in Florida.

The chair was a flea market find, now reupholstered in a modern coral print.

I didn't know there were fireplaces in Florida...

Okay - I love this banquette. It's custom made in faux-ostrich vinyl that's super kid-friendly

Woolen stockings didn't scream beach cottage, so the kids used buckets in lieu of stockings

If you can, use accents from your own backyard.  They don't look like everyone else's decorations, and they're free. This owner took cuttings of pine from her own property. Don't have property? Take a walk in a park and see if there are any fallen pine cones you can gather.

I adore how she did up her stairs with mercury glass candle holders and jumbo pine cones.

The bedroom color palette is so serene.

Does this home still feel holiday spirited to you?

via Southern Living December 2011

my favorite images from my favorite blogs...

Happy Friday! Time to relax and enjoy a little eye candy. Presented in no specific order from some of my favorite blogs...


some beachy beauties from Completely Coastal...

oh my...to have that beach so close by...

The four below are from Providence Ltd. Design

so cool

fabulous kitchen.  who knew a kitchen could be so luxe?

The last three are from my friend Liz's blog(s) Chomp Chow Chew, and Special Delivery.  She's a fellow RISD illustration department grad.

I love visiting with her and her boyfriend because I know that, aside from catching up, I'm in for some great meals.  They always know the best restaurants and markets.

 Liz has an amazing color sense.  Isn't her palette a work of art in itself?

 mm....Real ramen...